Reactive Dog Classes

You Are Not Alone

These classes are designed for owners of dogs that have trouble coping with the presence of other dogs and/or strangers on walks. Your dog may have been labelled “aggressive” or “fearful”.

Irrespective of your dog’s background and the cause of the “issues”, there are many things we can do to help. We cannot, however, make any promises as regards whether we can "cure" your dog, because your dog’s reactivity, as well as the result of the training, will vary depending on many factors, including:

- your dog’s age and background;
- your dog’s inherited temperament traits;
- your dog’s life experiences to date;
- your dog’s early puppyhood socialization (if any);
- what levels of stress your dog is subjected to on a daily basis;
- how much time and effort you are able to put into your dog's rehabilitation programme on a daily basis.

IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT!

Having a reactive dog can often be both exhausting and embarrassing, and also quite daunting at times. Frustrating. Frightening. Disappointing. Depressing. Infuriating. And, at times, heart-breaking.

Our first consideration is to create an environment and an atmosphere where everybody, humans and dogs, can feel SAFE.

In order for our dogs to learn about the world around them, never mind being able to work with you, we need to learn how to create an environment where our dogs can feel SAFE. Only then can they learn to RELAX in the presence of the things that used to trigger their fear/aggression/reactivity.

STRUCTURE

1. Behaviour Evaluation

Before being accepted into the Reactive Dog Programme, we will need to assess your dog to make sure he or she is suitable for the programme. Unless we have already worked with your dog through our private behaviour consultations programme, we will need to set up Behaviour Evaluation for this purpose.

The Behaviour Evaluation consists of a one hour session in which we go through a  Behaviour Information Form on your dog (that you will have completed ahead of time). We then meet your dog and assess its behaviour with other dogs, people or other triggers, and discuss how we can best help your dog based on our findings and your time and budget constraints.

2. Orientation Class

Once we have completed the Behaviour Evaluation, your first, compulsory class of the Reactive Dog Programme is the Orientation Class. This is a 50 minute online theory lesson WITHOUT dogs.

For the link to the YouTube video, CLICK HERE.

3. Introductory Reactive Dog Theory Lesson

In order to help make their dog better, it is important that owners understand what is going on with their reactive dog.

The Reactive Dog Programme therefore begins with a 1-on-1 private lesson via Zoom for the purpose of educating you about why dog become reactive, how we work with the dog to make them better, and why what we do actually works to make them better. As soon as you have registered for the Reactive Dog Programme, we set this lesson up at a time of your convenience.

Ater that lesson, you will move on to the 30-mins one-on-one lessons, which are usually held indoors, but may also be outdoors in a controlled environment. These are split into two levels:

4. Level I: Basic Reactivity Protocols

Learning to exist and work in the presence of your stress triggers (other dogs, etc). These lessons are usually held indoors.

The curriculum has three main parts, including a number of student electives based on our findings and discussions after the behaviour evaluation.

CUSTOMIZED CURRICULUM

Reactivity	Confidence & Relationship Building	Student Electives (from customized list of training priorities)
Systematic Desensitization, Classical and Operant Counterconditioning	Come When Called	1.
BAT Line Handling Skills (preparing for level 2)	Emergency Recall	2.
	Meandering Loose Leash Walking	3.
	Polite Walking	4.
	Settle	5.

5. Level II: BAT - Interaction Protocols

The BAT protocol is used to teach the dog to make his or her own appropriate decisions in the presence of other dogs. These lessons are held in a controlled, outdoors environment, year-round.

5. BONUS: Monthly Roundtable Discussion

Because living with a reactive dog can be a pretty lonely experience, and you don't meet many other owners of reactive dogs, Cowichan Canine offers a monthly (except December), Roundtable Discussion via Zoom.

We usually offer the Roundtable every THIRD Friday of the month, but sometimes dates may vary.

It can be a lonely life, living with a reactive dog. But know that you are not alone! Even attending class is lonely - only the instructor, no other fellow "reactive people".

So, we get together and share experiences of what it's like to live with a reactive dog. We talk about our dogs' issues in a safe environment, with other owners of reactive dogs who know what it's like, and who don't judge us because we "cannot get the dog to behave" or "cannot control the dog".

The event is open to pas and present students of our Reactive Dog Programme or private training services. Past students are especially welcome, as they are able to share of their experience of the training with our new students.

 

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES

As a Cowichan Canine Reactive Dog student, you pick your own classes from the schedule, and you can come to class as often as you want.

Lessons are offered several times a week at our new Training Centre in Cobble Hill. Please see our online schedule.

CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF WHAT TO BRING TO CLASS

ROLLING ENROLLMENT
- NO NEED TO WAIT FOR CLASSES TO BEGIN!

MODULAR SCHEDULE
- COME TO CLASS WHEN IT SUITS YOU

You can come to class as often as you wish as the schedule allows.

The curriculum is written on the basis that students attend class regularly and complete homework assignments between each class. 

FAMILY MEMBERS ATTENDING CLASS

Your spouse or significant other is welcome to attend to help with class and with exercises, or just to observe.

Children under the age of 16 years of age are prohibited from attending Reactive Dog lessons.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR CURRENT CLASS FEES

TO BOOK A BEHAVIOUR EVALUATION

You are welcome to call us to discuss your dog's training options. Unless we already know your dog through previous training, a behaviour evaluation is necessary to establish whether your dog will benefit from the Reactive Dog Programme. To book the Behaviour Evaluation, please go to our Online Shop, and submit your payment. We will contact you as soon as we receive your payment and send you the Behaviour Information Form. Once we receive the form back from you, we will set up your dog’s Evaluation session at our Training Centre. 

CALL US TODAY to discuss yours and your dogs needs: 

Tel: 250-929-1400  or use our  Office Contact Form
or contact our Canine Behaviour Consultant directly via email:
[email protected]

 

Welcome to our Reactive Dog Programme – we journey together!